A well-deserved reward for Charo Santos Concio

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation has announced the appointment of Charo Santos Concio as the company’s new President effective March 1, 2008. She will be the 5th President of ABS-CBN. And on an interesting note, she’s the first woman president of the Kapamilya network.

Charo joined ABS-CBN as Consultant on June 24, 1987 and went on a career fast track, moving up to Director for Programs in 1989, VP of Production Operations in 1991, Senior Vice President of TV Production in 1996 and when she took on the full responsibility of overseeing all entertainment content of ABS-CBN in 1998, she was promoted to Executive Vice President.

For almost 20 years, she served the Filipinos by producing TV shows and films that inspire and bring out the best in the Filipinos.

In April 1, 2006, she was assigned as Head for Channel 2 giving her total business responsibilities. Charo brought greater synergy between Sales, Marketing, and Production, which enabled the company to deliver remarkable business results for the past two years.

Charo also successfully completed the Advanced Management Program in Harvard Business School last year.

Congratulations to Ma’am Charo, or should we say, President Charo for her new position. It’s a well-deserved reward for a job well done. Many had been hoping that Charo would be given the said position after a vacancy in the said position occurred when then ABS-CBN prexy Freddie Garcia retired. The long wait is over for the beautiful lady.

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Now that Charlene Gonzales is doing a show for QTV 11, the sister channel of GMA 7, many are wondering if it’s possible for her to join the cast of a soap opera or a teleserye.

Charlene is hosting “Proudly Filipina” aired every Friday on QTV 11. She replaced Daphne Osena-Paez.  Her first episode was aired last Friday, Feb. 29. She says her husband, Aga Muhlach, is very happy that she was offered to host “Proudly Filipina.” She plans to bring her kids, Atasha and Andres, to the succeeding taping days of “Proudly Filipina.”

And since GMA is doing a TV remake of “Dyesebel,” many are wondering if the former Bb. Pilipinas Universe and finalist in the 1994 Miss Universe pageant held in Manila would be interested to join the newest Marian Rivera-Dingdong Dantes starrer. 

Charlene played Dyesebel in the movie produced by Viva Films. And what does she think of Marian being given the role of Dyesebel?

“Wow! Si Marian, she’s very beautiful. She fits the role of Dyesebel. As of now, I haven’t been offered anything. If ever they would offer me a role, why not? But my only commitment as of now is with QTV 11 and Proudly Filipina. Let’s do it one at a time muna,” says Charlene.

Besides, Charlene adds, they have to ask Aga’s permission if he would allow her to accept a role in a teleserye. Then she also has her two kids to think about if and when an offer to be part of Dyesebel or any other teleserye comes her way. But she admits missing acting although she enjoys hosting.

The Muhlach couple will be leaving this month for the United States. They plan to watch Manny Pacquiao’s fight if they would be lucky to get tickets.

But Aga would return home first since he has to finish his movie with Anne Curtis titled “Waiting for Love” under the direction of Jose Javier Reyes. On the other hand, Charlene would extend her vacation a little bit so she could visit some of her relatives in the States. But she can’t stay long either because the few advanced episodes she did for “Proudly Filipina” are just enough until her return from the States. 

Charlene will also be the anchorwoman of the Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant on March 8 with Raymond Gutierrez and Paolo Bediones. It will be aired on GMA 7.

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Is Cristine Reyes really moving over to ABS-CBN?  The buzz is getting louder that ABS-CBN will soon be the new home of Cristine, a former Starstruck Avenger (she joined the first Starstruck), where she’s poised to do the TV version of Eva Fonda, 16, one of the hit movies of Alma Moreno.

Cristine’s camp is saying that her contract with the Kapuso network is finished and there’s no impediment in her desire to transfer to the Kapamilya network, even if the GMA Artist Center people are saying otherwise. GMA Artist Center claims it has the first option to renew Cristine’s contract

“We are asking for a copy of the contract but they refused to give us one,” says someone belonging to Cristine’s camp. “Tapos na talaga ang contract namin. When we joined Starstruck, we were contracted for three years plus an option to renew for one year when the contract expires. That was in 2003. It’s now 2008. If you count back, tapos na talaga ang kontrata.”

In any case, Cristine’s latest movie titled “Ate” which her sister Ara Mina produced for her, is opening in theaters nationwide today. The film, directed by Lore Reyes from the story of Peque Gallaga (script by Gina Marissa Tagasa), is the maiden offering of A-Mine productions. The movie also stars Paolo Paraiso, Jimwell Stevens and Rochelle Barrameda.